Period Tracker Flo app

Period Tracker Flo app	By OWHealth Inc
	Features Period tracker. Period cycle predictions. Ovulation calculator. Pregnancy calculator. Reminders. Graphs. Education and information.
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? Yes Require a login? No Have password protection? Yes Have a privacy policy? Yes Require internet access to use? Yes Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PNG, 200 KB] Health Navigator Charitable Trust, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free; monthly or annual premium upgrade
How to get the app	(external link) (external link) (external link)

The app has 3 main purposes: to track your period cycle if you don't plan to get pregnant soon, predict your fertile window if you are trying to conceive and track your pregnancy if you are pregnant. The app can track many symptoms and lifestyle measures applicable to the purpose selected. Based on the data you enter, the app's predictions of your cycle and ovulation improves. The Health Insights help you to learn more about your body and cycle, and it also provides personalised health insights each day.

For the complete app description, go to App website (external link) , Google Play(external link) or iTunes(external link) and, for a detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS	CONS
✔ Useful health information including advice on managing menstrual pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, diet/exercise around menstruation and other relevant information. ✔ Has an alert if your period is late. ✔ Has both menstrual (period) and pregnancy tracking modes. ✔ Has a calendar and graphing. ✔ Monitor menstrual (period) flow, libido (desire for sex), mood, menstrual symptoms and other factors influencing the cycle. ✔ Allows monitoring of predicted ovulation using calculations, vaginal discharge and basal temperature. ✔ Can sync with fitness wearables and other health and fitness apps. ✔ You can join the Flo community board to ask questions or make comments. ✔ Reminders for contraceptive pills, Depo Provera injections and others. ✔ Option to password protect account.	✘ Does not alert user if emergency contraception should be considered (eg, if you’ve indicated that you don’t want to get pregnant, and then log that you had unprotected sex during your fertile period). ✘ The majority of special features (including predictions and written content) are only available to Premium users. ✘ No option to sync to your partner's device. ✘ This app has push notifications, with limited ability to tailor the content of these.

PROS

CONS

✔ Useful health information including advice on managing menstrual pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, diet/exercise around menstruation and other relevant information.

✔ Has an alert if your period is late.

✔ Has both menstrual (period) and pregnancy tracking modes.

✔ Has a calendar and graphing.

✔ Monitor menstrual (period) flow, libido (desire for sex), mood, menstrual symptoms and other factors influencing the cycle.

✔ Allows monitoring of predicted ovulation using calculations, vaginal discharge and basal temperature.

✔ Can sync with fitness wearables and other health and fitness apps.

✔ You can join the Flo community board to ask questions or make comments.

✔ Reminders for contraceptive pills, Depo Provera injections and others.

✔ Option to password protect account.

✘ Does not alert user if emergency contraception should be considered (eg, if you’ve indicated that you don’t want to get pregnant, and then log that you had unprotected sex during your fertile period).

✘ The majority of special features (including predictions and written content) are only available to Premium users.

✘ No option to sync to your partner's device.

✘ This app has push notifications, with limited ability to tailor the content of these.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Dr Arna Letica, GP
Date of review: February 2021
Platform: Android
Version: 5.10.0
Comments: This app enables users to record and predict their menstrual cycle, and offers information on fertility and pregnancy. Helpful for those wanting to conceive. Users can log a range of symptoms, graph their cycle and other lifestyle features. The Flo Premium option also has an extensive collection of peer-reviewed articles relating to female health (including on reproductive health, nutrition, exercise, mental health and gynaecological conditions). This is a useful ‘one-stop’ app for collating personal health information.
Safety concerns: No
New Zealand relevance: Some of the pregnancy tracker features relate to American practice (which does not necessarily reflect the New Zealand model of care.)

Clinical review

Reviewer: Dr Esther Woolston, O+G Registrar
Date of review: July 2018
Platform: Android
Version: 4.6.7
Comments: This app is most helpful for tracking periods and pregnancy. The app is a well-designed menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking app with a lot of useful features. The main benefits include the easy to use layout, reminders and useful health information on periods, pregnancy, diet and exercise.
Safety concerns: Does not alert the user if emergency contraception should be considered.
New Zealand relevance: Some parts of the pregnancy tracker reflect American practice. It doesn’t necessarily reflect the New Zealand model of care in pregnancy.

User review

Reviewer: Anonymous, Hamilton, NZ, June 2019
Comments: Relevant information. Easy to use and track everything from intercourse to physical symptoms such as bloating and headaches.

NZ Health App Library
Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
Heavy periods
Painful periods
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Overview of contraception methods | Rongoā ārai hapūtanga
Period (menstrual cycle) tracking apps

References

Moglia ML, Nguyen HV, Chyjek K, et al. Evaluation of Smartphone Menstrual Cycle Tracking Applications Using an Adapted APPLICATIONS Scoring System(external link). Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Jun;127(6):1153-60
Lee NB, Kang JH, Agapie E, et al. Examining Menstrual Tracking to Inform the Design of Personal Informatics Tools.(external link) Proc SIGCHI Conf Hum Factor Comput Syst. 2017 May 2;2017:6876-6888.

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Period Tracker Flo app